Signal for street intersections.



J. w. SEE. SIGNAL FOR smm mIERsEcTmNs. APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.1914. 1,268,888. Patented June 4, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

II/III'IIIIIIII fly. 3 23 24.2626 27 28 Hg. 1 Witness J. W. SEE. SIGNAL'FOR STREET INTERSECTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1914. 1,26&288., Patented June 4, 1918;

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- 46 mumun" 47 mm-lnmlm IIPIIIIII? i 1 "mm Q I Inventor d w 0%5fl Witnesse J. W. SEE.

SIGNAL FOB STREET INTERSECTIONS. APPLICATION FILED .IUl-YB. I914.

1,268,288., I Patented June 4, 1918,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witness 3:

Inventor son Boulevard while the'tralfic on Dearborn I street moves for a given period, and to then i il Specification of Letters Patent.

JAMES w. sen, or nnninron, onto.

sIenALron s'rnnn'r I ncrron's.

Patented same, rate.

Application filed July 8, 191* Serial No. 849,666.

This invention will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyin'gdrawings in which l Figure 1, is a front elevation of a signal exemplifying my invention:

Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same in the plane of line a of Figs. 3, 6, 11 and 12:

Flg. 3-, a horizontal section through the cabinet in the plane of line b of Figs. 1, 2, 5, e, 7, 10 and 11:

Fig. 4, a diagram of the electric circuit:

Fig. 5, a front elevation ofthe timing mechanism:

Fig. 6, a side elevation of the timing mechanism and horn-board:

Fig. 7, a vertical section, in the plane of line 0 of Fig. 5, of the timing mechanism:

Fig. 8, a vertical section of the timing mechanism in the plane of line d of Fig. 5':

Fig. 9, a vertical section of the timing cylinder inthe plane of line e of Fig. 5:

-' Fig. 10, a rear elevation of the horn-board;

Fig. 11, a vertical section of the hornboard in the plane of line f of Figs. 2, 10 and 12: and

- Fig. 12, a plan of the horn-board, the sign shaft appearingin section in the plane of line g of Figs. 2, 6 and 11.

The device is intended to be fixedly disposed at the intersectionof the center lines of two streets,say, for example, Dearborn street and Jackson Boulevard, and to give such notice as will arrest the traflic on Jackarrest the traflic on Dearborn street while the traffic on Jackson Boulevard moves, and so on and on.

In the drawings 1, indicates a column adapted to be fixedly planted in the'intersection of the center lines oftwo streets: r 2, a doored cabinet carried by the column and ada ted to contain mechanism pertaining to t e signal and also. adapted to contam, if desired, fire alarm, telephone and police calls:

3, a vertical shaft, which I will call the sign-shaft, mounted for rotation in the column: v

4:, a sign'securedto the upper .endfof the shaft and adapted, by quarterturns of the the sign carrying a warning legend, the word 5 Stop in the illustration;

5, a motor adapted to serve in turning the sign-shaft:

6, ports in the cabinet to give freedom for the sound of the audible signal produced by apparatus within the cabinet:

'7, an umbrellacarried by the column above the ports to protect the vports. from the weather:

8,.a disk secured to the shaft within the cab net: d 9, four equidistant stop-lugs carried'by the isk 10, a stop-hook pivotally supported within 7 and adapted to be engaged by a tooth on ,tapnet 14:.

16, a spring coiiperating with the stophook and tapipet and holding the hook of the tappetyieldingly to pin 15:

shaft, to stand cross-wise of either street,

, a second tooth on the tappet, this tooth engaging a tooth carried by the core of the solenoid: H

18, a spring holding the core of the sole- .noid outwardly against a suitable fixed stop:

19, a board fixed within the cabinet and supporting the solenoid andstop-hook and other portions of the timing-mechanism and, hereinafter termed the timing-board:

20, a clock-work mechanism carried by sulation between the metallicsurfaces:

with each other:

23, a completecircle of insulation at one end of the cylinder:

24, a circle of four equidistant metallic contactsurfaces on the cylinder:

25, a circle of two equidistant metalliccontact surfaces on the nyl-inder: d 26, a single contact surface on the cylin- 27, a circle of three equidistant metallic contact surfaces on the cylinder: 28, a circle of four contact surfaces on the cylinder, arranged in. diametrically opposite pairs, each pair bein twice as far from the other air as one sur ace of the pair is from the fe low surface of that pair, all of the metallic eripheral contact surfaces of the cylinder sing in electrical communication 29, a fixed dovetailed guide-Way parallel with the cylinder:

30, a carriage adapted for adjustment in the guide-wayz 31-, a brush carried by the carriage and adapted for contact with the metallic con-' tact surfaces of the cylinder:

32, a latch mounted on the carriage and.

adapted to engage any selected one of a series of notches in the guide-way so as to maintain brush 31 in the plane of rotation of any selected one of the circles of contact surfaces on the cylinder:

33, a metallic plate mounted on the timingboard and carrying 'much of the timingmechanism i 34, oneof the mains for bringing current to the apparatus, this main being illustrated as attached to plate 33:

35, the second main, this main being illustrated as leading to the solenoid and then through the motor 36, a brush in constant contact with the peripheral metal of the cylinder and connecting main 35, through the solenoid and motor, with the metallic peripheral surface of the cylinder: and

37, a normally open contact, illustrated as a push button, serving, when manipulated, to connect the two mains at a point beyond the solenoid and motor.

Considering the parts as thus far referred to, let it be assumed that current is on the mains and that the clock-work is not wound up or that it is otherwise out of action, and

assume that the sign stands crosswise of one of the streets, say Jackson Boulevard, and

tappet, whereupon spring 11 will restore. the

stop-hook to arresting position and the diskand sign will be stopped after having made a quarter turn, no matter how fast the motor may tend to turn the disk. The sign has thus been turned through an. angle of ninety degrees or crosswise ofDearborn street and locked in such position by the stop-hook even if the oflicer failed to release the button. Whenhe releases button 37, then the core goes out and its tooth takes the normal position as in Fig. 5, the swinging of tappet 1.4 permitting tappet-tooth 17 to be. passed by the tooth carried by the core.

When, in the judgment of the oflicer, the

proper time has arrived, he may manipulate button 37 again and turn the sign, across Jackson Boulevard and so on and on. He may use his judgment as to the length of the period during which the traffic may be arrested on the respective streets, precisely as he would do by blowing his whistle in the usual manner. I

In the above described use of the apparatus the oificers judgment and hismanipulation of button 37 has been employed. -Assume, now, that the trafiic conditions were such that the oficers' judgment need not be employed and that the traific may be changed atregular intervals, and assume that a quarter minute is a satisfactory interval for al" ternately arresting the traflic on the two streets, and assume that the clock-work is in action and giving the cylinder one turn per minute. The officer will now shift brush 31 to the cylindrical circle 24 having four contacts fifteen seconds apart as the cylinder vals instead of .guarterjminute intervals he turns; The olficer may now leave thesta- If, in the judgmentof' the ofiicer, the trafiic should be changed at one-half minute inter-.

sets brush 31 to the circle 25 c'arryingtwo contact surfaces on the'cylinder. If he decides that the device should change the traific Leas es at the end of each minute he sets brush 31 to the circle 26 carrying one contact surface only. If. he judges that the trailieshould change ateach one-third 'minute he sets brush .31 to circle 27 which carries three permission of traflic may remain upon one" street twice as long as on the other. He

may do this by setting brush 31 to circley28 which has four contact surfaces so disposed' that the trafiic permission will be open for periods or ten seconds on one street and twenty seconds on the other and, .similarly the cylinder may be provided with other circles of contact surfaces so disposed relative to each otheras to give any desired diflerence in the permissive period for the.

streets.

Thus far the traflic over streets has been effected by a-sign under the direction of the intersecting the showing of either the. traffic L office'r direct or automatically by the clockwork. V

I will now describe the audible signal sys tem to operate either alone or in conjunction with the sign system.

Proceeding with the drawings 38, indicates a board, which Iwill term the horn-board, supported in the cabinet:

39,011 electrical operated audible signal device supported by the horn-board and illustrated as an electric horn:

40, an insulated disk fast upon the sign shaft:

41, longitudinally extending metallic contact pieces mounted in the periphery of disk 40, there being six of these pieces, a pair diametrically opposite another pair and one I contact piece in the middle of the space between each pair:

42,- a pair of brushes making contact with disk 40 and adapted to be connected by contact pieces 41, one of these brushes being connected with electric main 35 through the horn, while the other brush is connected with main 34: vand 43, a normally open pushbutton adapted to close the circuit through the hornfrom one main to the other.

Assume that the clock-work is out of operation and that brush 31 is on insulation on the cylinder, and that current is on the main. e oficer may, by manipulatingpush-but: ton 43 sound the signal, say one blast of the horn for Jackson Boulevard and two blasts for Dearborn street, in other words he controls the movement of the traffic by I sound alone. on the same plan as he usually controls it by designating blasts upon his whistle.

If, now, he will shift brush 31 to circle 24 of four contact surfaces on the cylinder,

through the ho signals to operate either ing preferably electric lam sign will turn at quarter minute intervals as has been before described, theidisk 40 turning and resting with the sign. If disk 40 turns, at the turning of the si the contact pieces 41* closes t 1e circuit and gives one'blast. During the nextquarter turn of thesign two blasts will be given and at the next quarter turn one blast and atthe next quarter turn two blasts The horn may thus indicate which one of the two streetsis beingiopened It is desirable that the brushes 42 be so related to the contact pieces 11 that the horn is signbeginning its quarter turn. The horn thus causes an audible signal in conjunction with the signal formed by the sign. If the clock-Work be out of action and the signaling is to be done by the oflicer he may manipulate-button 37 to bring about the quarter turns of the sign as has been heretofore explained, and theturning Qf'tlle sign-shaft brings about the appropriate blowing of the horn. In the diagram shown in Fig. ithe brushes 42 are, for clearness of delineation. shown separate but it is to be understood that these brushes are in the'same Vertical plane and both bearing on disk 40 so that the brushes are electrically connected with each other at eachpassage of a contact piece 41.

Provision is also made for giving light alone or in conjunction with the sign-signal orhorn-signal or both.

Proceeding with the drawings:

44, indicates a. pair of lights, one at or near each end of the'sigmthe'se lights be- 45, a shield carried by an disposed trans versely to the sign between the two lamps:

46; a metallic disk mounted on but insulated from the sign-shafti 4?, a similar disk near the first one: 1

n, one of blown immediately upon the lating spots disposed equidistantly on the penpheriee of the disks: and

49, a pair'of; brushes, one hearin on the periphery of each of disks 46 and 4 one of these brushes being connected with oiie of the mains, other main. 7

The two lamps are in a circuit having their terminals at disks 46 and 47 respectively and the wiring between thelamps and the disks maybe. conveniently accomplished by making the sign-shaft hollow.

Quite regardless of the character of the and the other brush with the two air. al-lights, when the signal'is at the sto pe positron for one of the streets, two ts may he seen, one at each side of the ,be but one light.

appear a certain distanceapart, and the instant the device begins to turn to open that street to traflic the lights will appear to approach-each other until there appears to At the same time the single light seen on the intersecting street will begin its movement due to the turning of the system, until two lights come intoview to bar the traffic .on this street. It' will thus be apprehended that there is a movement of the lights at the initiation of the turning of the system which is to release the trafiic on one street and bar the traffic on the other street This premonitory'movement of the lights at theinitiartion of the change of direction of travel is H considered advantageous. And I prefer to enhance the advantage, in the case of electric lights, by a momentary extinction of lights when the change of direction of traffie is to be made. lhis is accomplished in the illustrated example by the insulated spots 48 which cut out the lights for an instant at each quarter turn of the shaft, and the insulated spots should be so related to brushes 49 that the circuit through the lights will be momentarily opened as quickly as practicable after the shaft starts upon its quarter turn.

Continuing with the drawings:

50, indicates the arbor of the clock-work which turns the timing-cylinder:

a 51, an arm fast on this shaft:

52, a sto projecting-from carriage 30 and adapted w en the carriage is shifted to the extreme left to come in the path of arm 51 and arrest the motion of the clock-work:

53, a manually operated switch'for cutting the lights out of circuit: and

54,.a manually operated switch for outtin the horn out of circuit.

t will of course be understood that, in the electric system particularly illustrated, usual circuit-accessories, such as circuitclosers, lightning-arresters, resistances, etc., will be provided to such extent as will be needed, and it is also to be understood that while convenience and compactness dictate that the timing-mechanism and the pushbuttons be disposed in acabinet carried by the column, some Mall of these parts'may be elsewhere disposed so as to permit the control of the signal from a point distant co from the column.

I claim:.. 1. A signal device for use at the intersection of two streets comprising, a column, a shaft mounted for rotation on. a vertical electrical means, comprising a motor, controlling thesounding of said signal, and

set forth.

axis on the column, a signcarried by the shaft, a motor and a connection therefro to the shaft for rotating the latter, devices for arrestin and locking'the sign in different angu ar positions, electrical means for controlling the rotation and locking of the sign, and clockwork mechanism for controllin the electrical means, combined substantia ly as set forth.

2. A signal device for use at the intersection of two streets comprising, a column, a shaft mounted for rotation on a vertical axison the column, a sign carried by the shaft, a motor and a connection therefrom to the shaft for rotating thelatter, devices for arresting and locking the sign in difierent angular positions, and clockwork mechanism for controlling the rotation and lockmg of the sign, combined substantially as set forth.

3. A signal device for use at. the intersection of two streets comprising, a column, a shaft mounted for rotation on a vertical axis onthe column, a sign carried by the shaft, a motor and a connection therefrom to the shaft for rotating-the latter, devices for varresting and locking the sign indiifer ent angular positions, electrical means for controlling the rotation and locking of the sign, a rotary cylinder bearing contact surfaces upon its periphery for controlling the electrical means, and. clockwork mechanism for turning said cylinder, combined sub- I stantially as set forth.

4. A signal devlce for use at the intersection of twostreets comprising, a column,

a shaft mounted for rotationon a vertical y axis on the column, a sign carried by the shaft, a motor and a connection therefrom to the shaft for rotating the latter, devices for arresting and lockin the sign in different angular positions, e ectrical means for controlling the rotation and locking of the sign, a rotarycylinder provided onits periphery with several diverse series of 'contact surfaces, clockwork mechanism for turning saidcylinder, a brush coiiperating with said cylinder and serving in conjunction with said contact surfaces to control the electrical means, and devices for adjusting said brush to anyv selected one of said circles of contact surfaces, combmed subclock work mechanism for controlling said electrical means, combmed substantially as 6. A signal device for use at the interfor section of two streets comprising, a column,

an audible signal device'supported thereby,

cylinder having contact surfaces upon its periphery to servein controlling said electrical means, and clockwork mechanism for turning said cylinder, combined substan tially as set forth.

.between the two Ii 7. A signal device for use at the intersection of two streets comprlslng, a column, a shaft mounted for rotatlon on a vertical axis on the column, a sign carried by the shaft, a motor, and a connection therefrom to the shaft for rotating the latter, devices for arresting and locking the si in dif fer'ent angular positions, an audible signal device supported by the column, electricalmeans for controlling the rotation and looking of the sign, and means connecting the sign and audible signal device to cause the signal device to operate in harmony with the turning of the sign, combined substan tially as set forth.

8. A signal device forv use at the intersection of two streets comprising, a column, a shaft mounted forrotation on a vertical axis on the column, asign carried by the shaft, a motor, and a connection therefrom to the shaft for rotating the latter, devices for arresting and locking the sign 1n different angular positions, an audible si al' device supported by the column, he ectrical means for controlling the rotation and locking of the sign,.means connecting the sign and audible signal device to cause the signal device to operate in harmony with the turning of the sign, and clockwork mechanism for operating the electrical means combined substantially as set forth.

9. A signal device for use at the intersection of two streets comprising, a column, a .pair of lights supported by the column and arranged for rotation in a common horizontal plane operative mechanism for turning and locking the pair-of lights in different positions, a shield disposed in a vertical plane at right angles to the horizontal plane in, which the lights rotate and hts, and means for rotating the shield with the lights, combined substantially as set forth. 7

10. A signal device for use at the intersection of two streets comprising, a column, a pair of lights supported by the column and arranged for rotation in a common horizontal plane, operative mechanism .for turning and lockmg the pair of lights in difierent with the lights, and electrica lights in a horizontal pos1tions, a shield disposed in a vertical plane at rlght angles to the horizontal plane .m which the lights rotate and between the the shield; y controlled two lights, means for rotatin means for turning said shield and pair of stantially asset forth;

plane, combined sub- 11. A signal device for use at the intersection-of two streets comprising a column, ,a

shaft, mounted for rotation on a vertical axis on the column, a sign carried by the shaft, a motor and a connectiontherefrom to the shaft for rotating thelatt'er, devices for arresting and locking the sign in diii'erent.

angular positions, signal 1i hts'supported by the sign near its on s, an

resting and locking the sign in difierent angular positions, signal'lights supported by the sign near its ends, electrical means for controlling the rotation and locking of the sign and pair of lights in angular positions,

and means for momentarily extinguishing the lights when the sign begins. its a motion, combined substantially as set orth.

13. In signaling means for crossings and the like, the combinatio'nof a column, a sign rotatably mounted thereon, a positive lock for the sign, a motor connected to rotate the sign, means for releasing the lock and ener izing the motor to rotate the sign, lights mounted to rotate with the sign, and means for blinking the lights during the rotation -of the si 11.

14. In signahng means for crossings and the like, the combination of a column, a'sign rotatably mounted thereon, for the sign, a motor connected to rotate the sign, means for releasing the lock and energizing the motor to rotate the si two lights carried by the sign and a sh eld between the lights to obscure the view of one of them at a time from certain positions.

15; In signaling means for crossings and the like, the combination-of a standard, a rotatablesign thereon, a motor and looking means, a controlling circuit for the motor and locking means, ler for the circuit comprising moving contacts, a stationary contact, and'means renelectrical means for controlling. the rotation and locking of 7 .75

a positive lock and a timing control- 16.In signalingmeans for-crossings'and the like, the combination of a standard, a rotatable sign thereon, a motor and locking means, a controlling circuit for the motor and locking means, and a timing controller for the circuit comprising annularly ar ranged moving contacts, a normally fixed contact, and means for shifting the last named contact to render thetiming means mefi'ective. p

17. In signaling means for crossings and the like, the combination of a standard, a rotatable sign thereon, a motor and locking means, a controlling circuit for the motor and locking means, and a timing controller for the circuit comprising annularly arranged moving contacts, a normally fixed contact, means for shifting the last named contact to render the timing means inefi'ective, and a stop carried by said last named contact to arrest movement of the timing means.

18. In signalin means for crossings and the like, the com ination of a standard, a

rotatable sign, a motor and locking means therefor, an, electrical controlling circuit comprising a timing cylinder having a plurality of sets of contacts, a normally stationary contact to cooperate with the contacts of the cylinder, means for shifting the normally fixed contact and clockwork mechanism for rotating'the cylinder.

JAMES W. SEE.

Witnesses:

Gno. JOHNSON, ELMER R. SHIPLEY. 

